The growing problem of sexual assault in the armed forces could threaten the military's ability to do its job and to recruit strong candidates to serve their country, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said today.

The issue took center stage in Washington after the arrest of the officer who ran the Air Force's sexual assault prevention office on a sexual battery charge was confirmed Monday, a day before the Pentagon released a report that found sexual assaults in the military have risen 6 percent.

The arrest this past weekend in Arlington, Va., of Lt. Col. Jeffrey Krusinski, who headed the Air Force's office of sexual assault prevention, sparked outrage about the military's response to sexual assault among service members. He was removed from his post on Monday after the Air Force found out about his arrest.